Written Answers Nos. 537-572
537. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if carer’s allowance payments will be removed from the income assessment for social housing applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42414/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Household Means Policy already provides that carers allowance shall be disregarded by local authorities when assessing income eligibility for social housing.
Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations. The Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to the Household Means Policy.
The policy defines income as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. It provides for a range of mandatory income disregards, including carers allowance. Local authorities may also disregard temporary, short-term or once-off income which is outside the regular pattern of a person's annual income.
538. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on legislation being prepared to give effect to the commitment in the climate action plan to ban the installation of fossil fuel boilers in new homes by 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42429/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 194c of Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2021 commits to “Effectively ban the installation of fossil fuel boilers in new homes” by Q4 2023 led by my Department with the support of SEAI.
It is intended that the elimination of fossil fuels in new dwellings will be implemented through Part L of the Building Regulations for Conservation of Fuel and Energy in Dwellings.
Part L of the Building Regulations is performance based and technology neutral. Fossil fuel boilers are phased out through the Building Regulations by advancing regulatory performance requirements so that it is no longer practical to install fossil fuel boilers as the primary heating system in new dwellings.
As part of a roadmap in place since 2007 to improve the performance requirements of building regulations, Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Regulations were introduced for new dwellings commencing construction from 1 November 2019. This programme of improvement has effectively banned solid fossil fuel and oil boilers from being installed as the primary heating source in new dwellings.
CSO analysis of Building Energy Ratings show that the main heating system for new dwellings since 2020 is now electricity for renewable energy heat pumps. Based on the CSO analysis 82% of all new dwellings now use renewable energy heat pumps as the primary heating system.
The CSO analysis also shows that oil fired boilers are no longer installed in new dwellings since 2020 and that solid fuel is no longer installed as the main heating system in new dwellings since 2014.
Gas boilers are installed in 17% of new dwellings since 2020, down from 47% in the period 2015 to 2019.
Based on the recent accelerated decline of the installation of gas boilers as a result of the introduction of NZEB requirements in 2019, it is expected that further planned updates to the National Calculation methodology for the performance requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations including an update to reflect the decarbonisation of electricity should make it less feasible to install fossil fuel boilers by the end of 2023, to the extent that all fossil fuel boilers will be effectively banned as the primary heating system for all new dwellings.
539. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review by his Department of the amendments made in Seanad Éireann to the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 will be completed in order that he can bring a memorandum to Government seeking approval to have the Bill restored to the Order Paper of Dáil Éireann; the reason for the delay with this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42439/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 gives legal effect to the proposed reconfiguration of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area network arising from the 2014 review of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area network.
The Bill had completed all stages in the Dáil and the Seanad, and had been returned to the Dáil for consideration of the various amendments made by the Seanad when the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil on 14 January 2020.
It is intended to bring a Memorandum to Government to seek approval to have the Bill restored to the order paper once a number of complexities have been resolved, and the amendments made in the Seanad have been re-examined in consultation with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) from a legal and drafting perspective.
My Department is engaging with the OPC on this process with a view of completion in the coming months.
540. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the implementation plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 will be published. [42454/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPreparation of the Implementation Plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People is underway and will be launched in Quarter 4 2022.
The Implementation Plan will be aimed at delivering housing and related supports for disabled people through the cooperation and collaboration of Government Departments, state agencies and others in line with the new Strategy. The Implementation Plan and new Strategy will operate within the framework of Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland which is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing with an appropriate mix of housing design types provided within social housing, including universally designed units, is available to everyone in Irish society, including those with disabilities.
The Housing Agency will have a key partner role with my Department in ensuring the delivery of the actions under the Strategy and coordinating the interagency collaboration at regional and national level.
541. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the first home scheme and the vacant homes scheme can be combined by a first-time purchaser who hypothetically identifies a derelict property which would potentially be their first home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42478/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. Full details of the scheme available online at www.firsthomescheme.ie.
From the outset, the First Home Scheme has worked towards on a number of distinct yet interrelated objectives: (1) to enable first-time buyer individuals and families to purchase a new home at a price affordable to them, (2) to help address the issue of viability of developments that could be progressed, by creating a pool of purchase-ready customers, and (3) to encourage new supply at scale to the Irish housing market.
Accordingly, I and the other participants in the First Home Scheme agreed that properties eligible for the scheme should be newly-built houses or apartments in private developments. Further information on this eligibility requirement is available on page 8 of the First Home Scheme brochure, which is online at: www.firsthomescheme.ie/media/4nda0lnn/0827-first-homes-brochure_r14.pdf.
In addition, this aspect of the First Home Scheme also allows purchasers to avail of the Help To Buy tax rebate, which supports first-time buyers in meeting the deposit requirements for newly-built homes. Subject to the level of income tax and DIRT paid over the previous 4 years, the Help To Buy scheme provides a maximum benefit to first-time buyers of 10% of the price of the newly constructed home, capped at €30,000. Full details of the incentive are available at: www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx.
The focus of the new Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund Scheme is very different, in that it aims to tackle vacancy and dereliction in towns and villages around the country. The Fund has been established to provide additional choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, supporting the future growth and development of towns and villages by delivering the sustainable reuse of vacant properties as homes, which can also support wider regeneration outcomes. In doing so, it provides the opportunity to strengthen Ireland’s rural urban fabric and support the communities who live there by reusing existing buildings. Full details of the scheme are available at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/c2183-croi-conaithe-towns-fund/.
In short, the scope and objectives of each scheme are different. The First Home Scheme focuses on the viability and affordability of new-build homes, particularly in areas of high demand where they are needed most. The Croí Cónaithe scheme focuses on existing vacant and derelict properties, generally in areas of lower demand. For the reasons outlined, the schemes cannot be combined.
542. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will introduce a biodiversity Act to legally underpin the forthcoming biodiversity action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42497/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe public consultation for the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) launched on September 1s. The 4th NBAP will set the national biodiversity agenda for the period 2023-2027 and aims to improve the governance of biodiversity in Ireland so that we can better respond to the biodiversity emergency. The Plan also addresses the connections between biodiversity and climate change, and the need to enhance the evidence base for biodiversity conservation policy and practice.
The draft Plan has been developed against a backdrop of unprecedented challenges for nature in Ireland and globally. It is informed by an extensive review of national, European, and international policies, strategies, legislation and science. A first draft of the Plan was circulated to an initial group of stakeholders, including the Biodiversity Forum, the Biodiversity Working Group, Government Departments and organisations that are likely to be involved in implementing the Plan. Further development of the draft Plan involved stakeholder engagement in the form of exploratory discussions, surveys, detailed workshops and valuable discussions held at the 2nd National Biodiversity Conference in June.
Promoting a ‘whole of government, whole of society’ approach to biodiversity conservation is central to the next National Biodiversity Action Plan. The draft Plan recognises the need for responsibility for biodiversity to be shared across government, acknowledging that responding to the challenges we face is not the sole responsibility of one department or organisation. In the draft Plan, among other actions aimed at broadening the governance of biodiversity across departments and local authorities, my Department commits to exploring placing the National Biodiversity Action Plan on a statutory footing.
I urge members of the public to have their say and engage with this public consultation.
543. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding is available to councils to enable them to test their housing stock for radon gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42514/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 set a minimum standard for decent, safe and secure rental accommodation. These Regulations also focus on tenant safety and include measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide and window safety. With very limited exemptions, these apply to social housing as well as private rented residential accommodation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the regulations. Responsibility for enforcement rests with the relevant local authority.
The minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. These requirements are set out in 12 parts classified as Parts A to M. Part C – Site Preparation and Resistance to Moisture (1997) and require that reasonable precautions shall be taken to avoid danger to health and safety caused by substances (including radon) found on or in the ground to be covered by a building
Specific advice for local authorities in relation to radon testing on their own social housing stock, is included on the website, www.radon.ie. The EPA has also produced a booklet, ‘Guidance Notes to Local Authorities on Implementing a Radon Measurement Programme’, which is available at the Agency's website at the following link:
www.epa.ie/pubs/advice/radiation/radonadvicetolocalauthorities.html
Testing costs are relatively inexpensive and generally in the €40 to €60 price range and are therefore in the case of individual homes generally funded by local authorities from their management and maintenance budgets. Funding for a strategic and at scale programme of testing and remediation work by a local authority to deal with the issue of Radon can however be sought from my Department under the new planned maintenance funding programme.
544. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average reletting time for local authority homes in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42515/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including re-letting time by local authority. The most recent report, relating to 2020, is available on the NOAC website at the following link:
noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/NOAC-Local-Authority-Performance-Indicator-Report-2020.pdf
Further details in relation to vacancy periods should be available upon request from each local authority. It should be noted that local authorities will always have a certain level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process.
545. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of councils that have a European Union liaison officer to identify sources of European Union funding and supervise applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42516/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra670. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide funding for a European Union liaison officer for Kildare County Council to assist the council in identifying and applying for EU funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44163/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 670 together.
I do not currently have plans or funding available to fund a role of the nature outlined; under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis.
However, granular data, in terms of individual roles in local authorities is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information should be available from each local authority.
546. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process involved in local authorities transitioning fire stations from part-time to full-time; if there is additional funding available to local authorities for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42522/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
Under this legislation, there are 31 fire authorities which provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Local authority fire services are delivered by approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 217 fire stations nationwide. 16 of these stations being staffed by full-time firefighters, a further 4 are mixed full-time and retained, and 197 are staffed by retained firefighters, with approximately 2,065 retained firefighters around the country. It is important to note that the numbers of fire service front-line staff have been maintained at a constant high level throughout the economic challenges of the past number of years, even when staffing numbers, by necessity, were reduced in other areas of the local authority sector.
In 2013, my Department published 'Keeping Communities Safe (KCS) - A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland'. The adoption of KCS as national policy saw national norms/ standards established for fire services in Ireland for the first time, against which local authority fire services could benchmark themselves. The report of the Fire Service Validation Group, ' Fire Services in Ireland, Local Delivery - National Consistency', published in 2016, noted the staffing arrangements in place in fire services across Ireland to achieve these standards and that fire services manage staffing levels in fire stations to achieve the national standards of fire service response.
The prioritisation of work and effective management of all resources is, in the first instance, a matter for management in each of the fire services, based on their assessment of local risk, needs and resources. In relation to the staffing requirements in each local authority, under the Local Government Act, 2001 it is the responsibility of each Chief Executive to employ such staff and to make such staffing, funding, recruitment and organisational arrangements as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of their local authority. The provision of fire services by local authorities is based on a risk management approach which involves an analysis of the nature of the fire hazards and the incidence and extent of fires which occur, as well as the fire protection measures in place.
Government policy as set out in KCS provides guidance to the fire authorities on the provision of fire services, in particular on the process of ‘Area Risk Categorisation’ to guide the planning of the optimum configuration of stations and staffing arrangements appropriate to the established risk profile. Any change to the staffing profile of a fire station would be a matter for the local authority based on need. There is currently no dedicated stream of departmental funding available to local authorities to fund the type of transition outlined.
547. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the counties that do not have a dedicated tourism officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42524/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis.
However, granular data, in terms of individual roles in local authorities is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information should be available from each local authority.
548. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an exemption to planning permission requirements for the fitting of rooftop solar panels will be implemented. [42551/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Included in the planning exemptions set out in the Regulations are those applying to the installation of solar infrastructure on a variety of building types, including houses, businesses, industrial and agricultural to which specific conditions are attached.
My Department, in the context of the Climate Action Plan and in consultation with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has undertaken a review of the solar panel planning exemptions set out in the Regulations, with a particular focus on facilitating increased self-generation of electricity. This review is now complete. Substantial changes to the current planning exemption thresholds for solar panels are proposed, including those relating to the installation of solar panels on the roofs of houses, as well as the introduction of new classes of solar panel planning exemptions for apartments and educational/community/sports buildings.
The draft regulations have been reviewed under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive and it has been determined that they are likely to have significant effects on the environment, necessitating the undertaking of a full SEA on the draft proposals. The draft regulations have also been screened for Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the Habitats Directive by my Department’s Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) and the need for AA has been screened out.
A public consultation on the draft solar regulations as part of the SEA process ran from 15 June 2022 to 13 July 2022. My Department is currently reviewing written submissions and observations received as part of the public consultation, which will be taken into consideration before the finalisation of the draft regulations.
As required under planning legislation, the proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be made and the SEA process concluded. It is intended that the process for finalising the solar panel planning exemptions will be completed in the coming weeks.
549. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of all section 28 Ministerial guidelines issued in the past decade with a brief summary of the guidelines in tabular form. [42584/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been twenty-five section 28 Ministerial guidelines issued in the 2012-2022 period. They are listed with their relevant hyperlinks and a brief summary at the following link.
550. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Government is considering any change to the tenant purchase scheme to include a category of tenants who have been excluded (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42589/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra654. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans that he has to review the tenant incremental purchase scheme to allow those who were tenants of part V houses prior to the introduction of the regulations to proceed with the purchase of their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43864/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 550 and 654 together.
I am not currently considering changes to the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme vis-à-vis inclusion of Part V properties provided for social housing support.
The Part V provisions seek to promote social integration and secure mixed tenure, sustainable communities. Accordingly, Part V properties secured for social housing are excluded from the scheme to ensure the original policy intent is not eroded over time and the properties remain available for people most in need of social housing support.
The working group established in September 2020 to examine the issues relating to unsold affordable properties is considering a number of options. Any solutions put forward will consider the interests of all relevant parties including the tenants, approved housing bodies, local authorities, and will achieve good value for the Exchequer. These will be captured in the working group's recommendations, which I trust will help resolve this complex legacy issue.
551. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he approved the appointment of a permanent chief executive to Galway County Council; the progress made since progressing this; the reason for the delay in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42622/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has advised the Public Appointments Service (PAS) of the requirement to hold a recruitment competition for a replacement permanent Chief Executive in Galway County Council and it is now a matter for PAS to put the necessary recruitment arrangements in place.
There is a requirement for all Chief Executive posts for Local Authorities to be advertised openly on the www.publicjobs.ie website operated by PAS and the timing of the advertising of this post is a matter for PAS.
552. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that Galway County Council is required by his Department to have an option on its social housing application housing forms expressing a preference for a house in Galway city when in practice this never happens due to the pressure on housing there; if he will now release this requirement and make a ruling that all the applicants to Galway County Council for social housing who put down a preference for housing in the city would be allowed to transfer to the City Council list and retain the years that they had built up on the county housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42624/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGenerally, households may only apply for support to one local authority. This may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local connection, or the authority that agrees, at its discretion, to assess the household for support.
A household meeting these conditions, and which resides in a county with two or more local authorities, may specify up to three areas for receipt of support across those authorities. If qualified, the household will be entered on the housing waiting list of each of the authorities concerned. Accordingly, a household applying to Galway County Council and selecting an area of choice in the Galway City will be entered on the waiting lists of both Galway County and City Councils without having to make a separate application to the latter.
553. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if 100% funding is available from his Department for voluntary housing associations that need to retrofit houses that were constructed 25 years ago. [42626/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2021, my Department launched a 'deeper' retrofit programme designed around the Programme for Government commitment to 'retrofit' 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030. It is expected that approximately 36,500 of the overall target will be local authority owned homes. In 2022, my Department will fund the retrofit of 2,400 local authority owned social homes at a cost of €85 million.
My Department does not run an energy efficiency retrofit scheme for Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). AHBs have traditionally accessed SEAI grants for this purpose. The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme is available to homeowners, non-corporate landlords and AHBs, whose property or home was built and occupied prior to 2011. The new scheme offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade. This is a significant increase on the previous grant levels of 30-35%.
The scheme introduces a new way to undertake home energy upgrades with SEAI registered one stop shops providing an end-to-end service. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and quality assuring the work. Other key elements of the Scheme include:
- Applications are made to the Scheme through SEAI-registered, privately-owned one stop shops.
- Grants will be paid through the one stop shops.
- Grants are available for Home Energy Assessments; Heat Pumps; Wall and Roof Insulation; Solar PV; Windows and Doors; Ventilation Systems and Project Management.
- Upgrades completed under the scheme must reach a post works BER rating of B2 or better.
- All upgrades completed must deliver a minimum primary energy uplift of at least 100 kWh/m2/year
A new system is being established by the SEAI which will streamline and automate the grant application process. One stop shops will provide AHBs with the appropriate documents in electronic and paper form, as required.
554. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the redress scheme for defective apartment blocks to include apartments built before 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42662/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President.
The purpose of this Act is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. Full details can be found at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/328d7-minister-obrien-welcomes-progress-on-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
The issue of residential units within multi unit developments which are impacted by defective concrete blocks is challenging in the context of the scheme given there is often mixed use involving residential and commercial units, the need to remediate a multi-unit development as one and the complex ownership issues involving common areas and Owner Management Companies (OMC).
The Expert Group on the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme flagged that multi unit developments may also contain latent defects, and prior to proceeding with the remediation of defective concrete blockwork within such developments, any report in respect of the latent defects issue should be taken into account, as a holistic approach and one time solution would appear to be the best approach.
I received the report of the working group I established to examine defects in housing at the end of July and I am currently examining it in detail. The group’s terms of reference were focused on fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013 and the report is available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/97c19-working-group-to-examine-defects-in-housing/
The level of consultation and engagement that the Working Group undertook with stakeholders and interested parties both here and abroad was extensive. As a result, the report is rich in data regarding the nature and scale of defects as well as the cost of addressing defects. The Working Group’s recommendations along with the evidence gathered and options for potential supports contained in the report will be of considerable assistance in informing next steps. I will give the report full consideration, in consultation with Government colleagues, and will develop a plan to address the situation that many homeowners find themselves in through no fault of their own.
Complex issues remain to be resolved to facilitate of multi-unit developments in the defective concrete blocks scheme, which it is expected will be worked out in consultation between officials from my Department and the Office of the Attorney General.
555. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the number of applications and the number of unsuccessful applications to each local authority for the local authority home loan scheme since its introduction; if he will consider a reduction in the percentage of deposit required in line with increased household cost-of-living expenditure and the current housing market crisis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42678/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Home Loan has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. Prior to that, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was the mortgage available from local authorities. As of 4 January 2022, no new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan applications are being accepted, although applications already in process are being honoured.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, and its successor the Local Authority Home Loan scheme, on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications.
Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the Credit Policy that under pins the scheme, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
The most recent figures provided by the Housing Agency on the number of Local Authority Home Loan applications that it has assessed and recommended for decline from local authorities for 2022 up to the end of July are set out in the below table.
|
Local Authority |
Applications Assessed |
Recommended to Decline |
|
Carlow County Council |
23 |
15 |
|
Cavan County Council |
6 |
2 |
|
Clare County Council |
23 |
12 |
|
Cork City Council |
42 |
27 |
|
Cork County Council |
156 |
104 |
|
Donegal County Council |
9 |
3 |
|
Dublin City Council |
135 |
51 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
32 |
19 |
|
Fingal County Council |
91 |
35 |
|
Galway City Council |
36 |
11 |
|
Galway County Council |
65 |
37 |
|
Kerry County Council |
45 |
32 |
|
Kildare County Council |
64 |
39 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
29 |
9 |
|
Laois County Council |
39 |
25 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
11 |
7 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
42 |
22 |
|
Longford County Council |
25 |
9 |
|
Louth County Council |
99 |
69 |
|
Mayo County Council |
22 |
10 |
|
Meath County Council |
86 |
26 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
29 |
20 |
|
Offaly County Council |
8 |
5 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
24 |
19 |
|
Sligo County Council |
23 |
15 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
97 |
53 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
26 |
15 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
78 |
69 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
18 |
6 |
|
Wexford County Council |
50 |
28 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
69 |
39 |
|
Total |
1502 |
833 |
My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).
Information on drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals for both the LAHL and RIHL up to Q1 2022 is available at the following link, which will be updated as soon as figures are available:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
To support prudential lending, applicants must have a deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the purchase price of the property. Of this deposit, cash savings should provide no less than 3% of the purchase price of the property and applicants must provide bank or similar statements for a 12-month period immediately prior to making an application clearly showing a credible and consistent track record of savings. Gifts can comprise the remaining 7% of the purchase price of the property where their source is verified. I have no plans to change the deposit or savings requirements for the scheme.
The availability of the Help to Buy scheme for first-time buyers offers additional assistance to purchasers using the Local Authority Home Loan to buy newly built properties. This should alleviate some of the challenges faced by first-time buyers in accessing the 10% deposit of the purchase price of the property.
557. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an applicant can use the local authority home loan in conjunction with the first home shared equity scheme, that is, use the two schemes together; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42682/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It also includes the purchases of homes through State schemes such as the Tenant Purchase Scheme and Affordable Housing Schemes.
The First Home Scheme, however, can not be used in conjunction with the Local Authority Home Loan.
More information on the Local Authority Home Loan and the First Home Scheme can be found on the dedicated website, www.localauthorityhomeloan.ie and www.firsthomescheme.ie
558. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42702/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Bord Pleanála ('the Board') is independent in the performance of its functions under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, my Department has made enquiries with the Board who have confirmed that the status of such decisions which has already been made by the Board remains unchanged. Sections 50, 50A and 50B of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, codify the statutory right of judicial review of any decision of An Bord Pleanála.
559. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of houses in Limerick city and county that have received funding under the voids programme in each of the years 2018 to 2021; and if any of these are still vacant. [42711/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authority's to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
Over the period 2018 - 2021 my Department has funded 328 units in Limerick City and County under the Voids Programme. This figure does not include homes which were returned to productive use by Limerick City and County Council using funding from its own resources or as part of the wider regeneration programme.
Local authorities will always have a certain level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Therefore, ongoing data in relation to the occupancy status of properties previously funded under the voids programme is not collated by my Department.
561. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that a homeowner can take to request an inspection of a registered septic tank in order to avail of a grant for remedial works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42733/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, the owner of a domestic waste water treatment system is responsible for its maintenance and renewal and shall ensure that its parts and components are fit for purpose, operational where appropriate and kept in good order and repair so as to prevent a risk to human health or the environment.
My Department, under the Rural Water Programme, provides financial assistance towards the remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or the replacement of a domestic waste water treatment system under new and revised grant schemes which launched in June 2020. The schemes are focused on areas of greatest environmental priority rather than general in application. This is in line with Government Policy which is framed in the context of meeting relevant obligations under legislation.
The grant schemes are administered by the local authorities on behalf of my Department and details of the Terms and Conditions for each scheme can be found on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6cc1e-domestic-waste-water-treatment-systems-septic-tanks
Each local authority has appointed a Rural Water Liaison Officer (RWLO). The RWLO deals with the day to day issues for the Programme and can be contacted at the local authority offices.
562. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions he intends to take following the building defects report furnished to Government in recent weeks, specifically in terms of providing moneys in budget 2023 to cover the cost of remediation works that cannot wait; and if he agrees that homeowners with building defects ought to be treated equally to those whose homes were constructed using mica and pyrite-contaminated building materials. [42743/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra566. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update and advice in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42777/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra641. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the report of the working group on defective buildings; the steps that he intends to take to provide redress for homeowners affected by the defects dealt with in this report. [43638/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra648. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available to private apartment owners who are now faced with significant bills to comply with fire regulations and to make their homes safe; if it is his intention to offer grant support to such households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43752/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra650. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that he intends to provide for owners of defective apartments; if he will support a redress scheme similar to the mica and pyrite schemes for those homeowners; if owners of defective apartments built prior to the 1990s and 2000s will be included in any future support schemes or tax treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43835/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 562, 566, 641, 648 and 650 together.
I received the report of the working group I established to examine defects in housing at the end of July. The group’s terms of reference were focused on fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013 and the report is available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/97c19-working-group-to-examine-defects-in-housing/
The level of consultation and engagement that the Working Group undertook with stakeholders and interested parties both here and abroad was extensive. As a result, the report is rich in data regarding the nature and scale of defects as well as the cost of addressing defects. The Working Group’s recommendations along with the evidence gathered and options for potential supports contained in the report will be of considerable assistance in informing next steps. My Department is currently giving the report full consideration and I will, in consultation with Government colleagues, develop a plan to address the situation that many homeowners find themselves in through no fault of their own.
563. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses by county in the State dependent on private supplies of water from streams or wells and not on either a group water scheme or public scheme; his plans to afford all of these houses the opportunity to connect to a public supply or group water scheme at an affordable cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42744/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra564. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grants per house and other grants available for new group water schemes that would connect to the public mains of Irish Water supply; if he considers this sufficient in enabling viable group water schemes to be formed in the last remaining areas of the State not serviced by a group scheme or public water scheme; if he intends on increasing these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42745/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 564 together.
My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP). Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly. The strategic objective of the Programme is to improve the quality, reliability and efficiency of water services for rural dwellers.
The Programme delivers improvements to private water services in areas of rural Ireland where there is no access to piped water services. Funding is provided for:
- Individual water supplies, typically a bored well.
- New Group Water Schemes or extensions to existing schemes.
- Community Water Connections (formerly called Public Group Water Schemes).
Under the NDP, funding has been allocated over the period 2021 to 2025 for (non-Irish Water) investment in rural water infrastructure. This includes €175 million for the Rural Water Programme.
Under the oversight of the Rural Water Working Group, the Framework for the upcoming Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2022-2025 is being developed.
The organisations that are participating on the Working Group are the key stakeholders reflecting the importance and wide ranging impact of the Rural Water Sector. In addition to my Department (Chair), the Working Group comprises of: the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Health Service Executive, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and the County and City Management Association. The Working Group is also consulting with other relevant stakeholders, including Irish Water.
In developing the Framework the Working Group considers how best to deliver funding for water services in rural Ireland. Once I have had an opportunity to consider their report, I expect to announce details of the multi-annual programme priorities including funding levels later this year.
Census 2016 indicated that approximately 172,000 households nationally (around 10% of households) have private sources of water (usually a private well). A further breakdown of this data by county is available from the Central Statistics Office.
565. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that has been spent on Traveller accommodation in County Kildare over the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42766/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
My Department ceased the practice of allocating specific budgets to individual local authorities and implemented a new allocation process following a review of arrangements for the disbursement of funding provision and related supports for Traveller specific accommodation. Since 2020, it is open to all local authorities to apply for and draw down funds at any time throughout the year and this is actively encouraged by my Department. Full spend of the Traveller accommodation budget has been achieved in both 2020 and 2021.
The following table outlines the allocation and capital drawdown by Kildare County Council in each of the years 2017-2019 together with the drawdown for 2020 and 2021.
|
- |
Allocation |
Drawdown |
Allocation |
Drawdown |
Allocation |
Drawdown |
Drawdown |
Drawdown |
|
|
2017 |
2017 |
2018 |
2018 |
2019 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Kildare |
€ 80,000 |
€ - |
€ 80,000 |
€ 29,510 |
€1,000,000 |
€ 360,231 |
€ 261,110 |
€32,588 |
567. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of whole-time equivalent staff employed by each local authority in 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [42818/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraStaffing numbers for the local authority sector broken down by each local authority area for the years 2020, 2021 and to the end of Q1 2022 are available on the Public Service Numbers Databank which is hosted and maintained by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available at the following link: databank.per.gov.ie/
568. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocation of local property tax funds to each local authority in 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; the date on which the 2023 allocation will be notified to local authorities; and the amounts to be disbursed, in tabular form. [42819/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra572. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review and-or amend baselines in the context of local property tax for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. [42840/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 572 together.
Detailed information in respect of the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Local Property Tax (LPT) allocations broken down by local authority, are available at the following link on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ea27d-local-property-tax-allocations/
My Department last month confirmed provisional LPT allocations to local authorities for 2023 amounting to €617m as detailed in the table below. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future, the LPT allocation mechanism for 2023 is changed to allow for 100% of the estimated yield to be retained locally within the local authority area where it is collected. Accordingly, these allocations include an Exchequer contribution to equalisation funding of €118m, an increase of nearly €84m from current Exchequer funding levels. Local authorities in receipt of funding above their baseline may still be required to fund some level of roads and/or housing costs previously met by the Exchequer.
As previously, every local authority has the power to vary the basic rate of LPT in their local area by up to 15%; those variation decisions have not yet been made for 2023 and are not reflected in these allocations. Local authorities have until 15 October to confirm whether or not a LPT local adjustment factor should apply in their individual local authority areas in the coming year. Accordingly, final LPT allocations for 2023 cannot be confirmed until those decisions are finalised.
Table 1 – 2023 Provisional (pre-variation) LPT allocations to local authorities
|
Local Authority |
€ |
|
Carlow County Council |
6,138,657 |
|
Cavan County Council |
9,480,501 |
|
Clare County Council |
9,137,545 |
|
Cork City Council |
21,159,516 |
|
Cork County Council |
31,194,762 |
|
Donegal County Council |
25,119,850 |
|
Dublin City Council |
94,556,845 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
57,276,476 |
|
Fingal County Council |
40,533,514 |
|
Galway City Council |
8,527,592 |
|
Galway County Council |
14,517,890 |
|
Kerry County Council |
13,776,761 |
|
Kildare County Council |
23,161,639 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
10,673,913 |
|
Laois County Council |
8,558,877 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
8,956,315 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
17,554,464 |
|
Longford County Council |
8,906,648 |
|
Louth County Council |
9,866,198 |
|
Mayo County Council |
19,812,344 |
|
Meath County Council |
18,651,237 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
11,238,572 |
|
Offaly County Council |
7,656,288 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
10,216,232 |
|
Sligo County Council |
10,202,627 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
32,263,395 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
25,951,602 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
18,678,971 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
11,205,507 |
|
Wexford County Council |
13,547,516 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
18,506,399 |
|
Total |
617,028,653 |
LPT baselines are unchanged for 2023. It is intended to commence a comprehensive review of the current LPT baselines in the coming months. This review could not commence in time for the 2023 LPT allocation process without reliable and up-to-date data such as preliminary census data. Each local authority’s situation is complex and it is important that sufficient time is taken to analyse and assess potential options in that respect. LPT baselines allocations for 2024 and 2025 have, therefore, yet to be decided.
569. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the gross expenditure by each local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [42820/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra570. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the totality of grant aid and-or subsidy provided to each local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 (details supplied). [42831/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra571. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the totality of commercial rates levied by each local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the amount of commercial rates collected in each local authority in the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [42839/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 569 to 571, inclusive, together.
Gross expenditure data, grant and subsidy data and rates income data are published annually by Local Authorities (LA) in their Annual Financial Statements (AFS).
2020 is the latest year for which audited LA AFS data are available. The data for 2022 is not yet available in my Department and the figures for 2021 are currently been audited.
However, data relating to gross expenditure and grant and subsidies figures per LA for 2019 and 2020 is attached.
Details of the breakdown on grants and subsidies by government departments for the amalgamated 31 local authorities can be found on my Departments website at the following link: gov.ie - Local Authority Annual Financial Statements (www.gov.ie) Appendix 3 page 41.
The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation, which is applied to the valuation for each property determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority during the annual budget process. A detailed summary of rates accrued and collected by each local authority for 2019 and 2020 can also be found at Appendix 12 from the following links.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea801-overview-of-the-work-of-the-local-government-audit-service-year-ended-31-december-2019/
www.gov.ie/en/publication/e51a8-overview-of-the-work-of-the-local-government-audit-service-year-ended-31-december-2020/
